gears and suspension for 7 year olds?
Discussion
Hi,
After a bit of advice please.
My twin boys are 7 next month and are going to get new bikes. They have to be brand new as they have to be identical.
We often go for cycle rides around local forest and they can do 5k off road (smooth tracks) with ease. They currently have single speed and aluminium frame bikes but they are too small so 20 inch wheels seem right from now forwards. They go really fast down hill and therefore wobble as they are peddling so fast and they can't do slow speed stuff such as crossing a ditch because the gear is too high. So I'm keen on a geared bike. I'm a bit suspicious of suspension though - when I was a kid (30 years ago!) they view was that, unless the bike was very expensive, then suspension was more of a gimmick and just added weight and complexity. My current bike does have front suspension though, because you couldn't get a decent bike without it, and it works well.
My questions:
Is aluminium frame worth the extra? (I'm keen, not least for lifting on and off the car rack)
What is the best way for them to select gears?
Is suspension a good idea? Front only?
What do you think of these (on offer for weekend)
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bi...
But there is a big price range!
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes?...
Thanks
After a bit of advice please.
My twin boys are 7 next month and are going to get new bikes. They have to be brand new as they have to be identical.
We often go for cycle rides around local forest and they can do 5k off road (smooth tracks) with ease. They currently have single speed and aluminium frame bikes but they are too small so 20 inch wheels seem right from now forwards. They go really fast down hill and therefore wobble as they are peddling so fast and they can't do slow speed stuff such as crossing a ditch because the gear is too high. So I'm keen on a geared bike. I'm a bit suspicious of suspension though - when I was a kid (30 years ago!) they view was that, unless the bike was very expensive, then suspension was more of a gimmick and just added weight and complexity. My current bike does have front suspension though, because you couldn't get a decent bike without it, and it works well.
My questions:
Is aluminium frame worth the extra? (I'm keen, not least for lifting on and off the car rack)
What is the best way for them to select gears?
Is suspension a good idea? Front only?
What do you think of these (on offer for weekend)
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bi...
But there is a big price range!
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes?...
Thanks
Get this, quick, before the sale ends. £175 plus £10 off for new customers. Were previously retailing for £220.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-twenty-kids-bike/
This is basically wiggle, chain reaction version of the frog bikes, islabikes. Aluminium frame. The handlebar is steel but can be swapped out for a £10 aluminium bar that some people have done, saving about 300g. I've just kept the steel one, it's still a very light bike.
Geometry is excellent. My daughter went from 18 inch steel girls bike with baskets etc to this 20 inch aluminium bike and she loves it. With 2 minutes you could see the handling difference, she seems in comfortable control. And having gears is great, got the hang of those very quickly. Highly recommended. All the benefits of islabikes at a much cheaper price point.
My daughter, who is also 7.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-twenty-kids-bike/
This is basically wiggle, chain reaction version of the frog bikes, islabikes. Aluminium frame. The handlebar is steel but can be swapped out for a £10 aluminium bar that some people have done, saving about 300g. I've just kept the steel one, it's still a very light bike.
Geometry is excellent. My daughter went from 18 inch steel girls bike with baskets etc to this 20 inch aluminium bike and she loves it. With 2 minutes you could see the handling difference, she seems in comfortable control. And having gears is great, got the hang of those very quickly. Highly recommended. All the benefits of islabikes at a much cheaper price point.
My daughter, who is also 7.
How tall are your boys?
I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
jontykint said:
Get her a helmet if you want her to make 8 !
Oh I know, she has 3. That pic is a private road so her and her friends knock around on that all the time without helmets - not enough room to build up any speed here. Always wear helmets when we go out on rides though, no helmet, no ride is the rule.jontykint said:
How tall are your boys?
I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
Good shout on 24 inch. My son went 16, 20, 24 and just a couple of months ago, 26 - and he's only 12. That's 4 bike sizes in 6 or 7 years. I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
The twins seem to be experienced riders so maybe 24 inch, even if a tad big, will still be ok. Saves buying 2 more bikes a couple of years from now.
jontykint said:
How tall are your boys?
I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
They are 120cm. So I guess a 24" would be too big for a year or so. Thanks for the thoughts though. I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
soupdragon1 said:
Get this, quick, before the sale ends. £175 plus £10 off for new customers. Were previously retailing for £220.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-twenty-kids-bike/
This is basically wiggle, chain reaction version of the frog bikes, islabikes. Aluminium frame. The handlebar is steel but can be swapped out for a £10 aluminium bar that some people have done, saving about 300g. I've just kept the steel one, it's still a very light bike.
Geometry is excellent. My daughter went from 18 inch steel girls bike with baskets etc to this 20 inch aluminium bike and she loves it. With 2 minutes you could see the handling difference, she seems in comfortable control. And having gears is great, got the hang of those very quickly. Highly recommended. All the benefits of islabikes at a much cheaper price point.
My daughter, who is also 7.
Very tempted by these. Thankshttp://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-twenty-kids-bike/
This is basically wiggle, chain reaction version of the frog bikes, islabikes. Aluminium frame. The handlebar is steel but can be swapped out for a £10 aluminium bar that some people have done, saving about 300g. I've just kept the steel one, it's still a very light bike.
Geometry is excellent. My daughter went from 18 inch steel girls bike with baskets etc to this 20 inch aluminium bike and she loves it. With 2 minutes you could see the handling difference, she seems in comfortable control. And having gears is great, got the hang of those very quickly. Highly recommended. All the benefits of islabikes at a much cheaper price point.
My daughter, who is also 7.
jontykint said:
How tall are your boys?
I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
I've just bought a 24" bike for my 8 year old, 135cm daughter. She was looking quite cramped and uncomfortable on her 20" hotrock, and is much happier on the 24". 7 years old is getting towards the top end of the sizing for most 20" bikes, so it's worth checking out 24s as a slightly longer-term purchase. I’ve just bought a MTB for my boy’s 7th birthday.
He is 128cm and we went for 24” wheels.
Slightly too big at the moment he was stretched out a bit but fitted a smaller stem which has helped for a couple of months until he grows into the bike.
The wheel size makes a lot of difference to the bike handling, they can do much more and will come on a lot off-road.
Main thing is a nice low standover height so he can move about on the bike and put his feet down safely.
We got a Saracen Mantra, bit more expensive but he will get a few years out of it and the quality is great, with decent components and suspension forks.
24” wheels.
Gears yes.
Suspension no.
The boy has one of these.
https://www.ridgebackkids.co.uk/boys/dimension-20-...
Gears yes.
Suspension no.
The boy has one of these.
https://www.ridgebackkids.co.uk/boys/dimension-20-...
You haven't said a budget, but we bought an Islabike Beinn 24 for our daughters 7th birthday and she loves it.
It looked a bit big when we got it but within a couple of months she had grown into it and quite happily does a 10 mile ride.
They are lightweight, have twist grip gears but I like the fact the brakes are designed for little hands and work well.
£430 new, £250-£300 second hand - if you buy second hand when you come to sell you will get most of your money back.
It looked a bit big when we got it but within a couple of months she had grown into it and quite happily does a 10 mile ride.
They are lightweight, have twist grip gears but I like the fact the brakes are designed for little hands and work well.
£430 new, £250-£300 second hand - if you buy second hand when you come to sell you will get most of your money back.
Edited by Lanby on Saturday 25th August 22:29
Mr E said:
The boy has one of these.
https://www.ridgebackkids.co.uk/boys/dimension-20-...
I'm amazed that they're advertising that for up to 10 year olds. Surely a 20" would be far too small unless the kid was tiny? https://www.ridgebackkids.co.uk/boys/dimension-20-...
Arrgggg!
I had ordered a couple of the 20 inch ones recommended above (thanks) but am now leaning towards a 24. So have cancelled.
I'm worried that the 20 will be outgrown too quickly but that the 24 will be a little too big and effect their confidence.
These ones look good value and seem to have good step over height which means that we should be able to get the seat down low enough for the 120cm boys.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fuji-dynamite-24-sport-kid...
I had ordered a couple of the 20 inch ones recommended above (thanks) but am now leaning towards a 24. So have cancelled.
I'm worried that the 20 will be outgrown too quickly but that the 24 will be a little too big and effect their confidence.
These ones look good value and seem to have good step over height which means that we should be able to get the seat down low enough for the 120cm boys.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fuji-dynamite-24-sport-kid...
If you can afford it I would recommend buying a bike that fits them now not something that they will grow into.
The same with shoes. I find it maddening that some parents put kids in shoes a size or two up so they will grow into them. Shoes usually wear out well before they do actually fit so you then have a situation where a kid spends 10+ years of his life in shoes that are too big! - as their bodies are still forming it probably compromises their gait and athletic ability for life.
The same with shoes. I find it maddening that some parents put kids in shoes a size or two up so they will grow into them. Shoes usually wear out well before they do actually fit so you then have a situation where a kid spends 10+ years of his life in shoes that are too big! - as their bodies are still forming it probably compromises their gait and athletic ability for life.
Mr E said:
One of my kids mates has a 24. It’s too big.
I’d say buy a 20
Second hand for a year or two, then move it on. But if they’re twins, I guess they need the same bike for sanity reasons.
As they're 120cm, I would second this - that's indeed firmly in 20" territory, and they will get a good couple of years out of the bikes. I’d say buy a 20
Second hand for a year or two, then move it on. But if they’re twins, I guess they need the same bike for sanity reasons.
I bought my lad a Pinnacle Ash 20 inch for his 7th birthday, he'd outgrown it in less than 6 months, I got it second hand in the knowledge it would go to his sister anyway, kids bikes get ruined, fact of life, there's little point expecting them to keep them nice.
He's now approaching 8 and on a 26inch wheeled bike with a tiny frame that his older sister had until she was about 10.
He's now approaching 8 and on a 26inch wheeled bike with a tiny frame that his older sister had until she was about 10.
Not mentioned yet and something I have learnt recently about kids bikes. Crank length is also very important to help them ride well. The 24" bike has 150mm cranks and its said you shouldn't exceed 10% of a person's height for good pedaling. So at 120cm tall you want cranks 120mm or less. Many cheap bikes use 140mm cranks, but frog, hoy, trek and isla and some others fit shorter 114mm ones that are better on 20" wheeled bikes are better. I would go for a 20" bike and accept it will need replacing in 2 years (this is along time to ride a badly fitting bike). You may get lucky and jump the 24" wheeled bikes for a small 26" wheeled bike in a couple of years.
Top tip....depending how tall they are.
Look at getting them XS mountain bikes I the next 3years. XS second hand decent mountain bikes tend to go cheap as people don't go for that size that often. Makes a great mtb for c9+yr olds.
No they aren't too big unless.....For a laugh here's my (then 6.5yr old) son on my mountain bike riding it...
Edit XS SIZED bikes
Look at getting them XS mountain bikes I the next 3years. XS second hand decent mountain bikes tend to go cheap as people don't go for that size that often. Makes a great mtb for c9+yr olds.
No they aren't too big unless.....For a laugh here's my (then 6.5yr old) son on my mountain bike riding it...
Edit XS SIZED bikes
Edited by Sa Calobra on Monday 27th August 18:38
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